"I have lasted seven weeks, I mean seven weeks longer than I ever thought I would last," Kendra said after co-hosts Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke announced the news.

It was a headline raising season for Kendra, who sparred – at first – with her partner, and later with judge Carrie Ann Inaba over a comment related to her lack of dancing "elegance," but the former "Girl Next Door" persisted and found her footwork improving, eventually leaving the show on Tuesday with her head held high.

"I want to thank Louis for stickin' with me and not fighting with me," Kendra said of her partner, before turning her gratitude to her loved ones.

"I want to thank my family, I want to thank Hank for being there every step of the way," she said, referring to her husband, NFL wide receiver Hank Baskett. "I want to thank my baby Hank for being there too. Baby hank, I'm coming home for you. I'm not the best dancer, but I am the best mom and I'm coming home, I'm back to being a mom."

Louis too complimented Kendra on her persistence and said she really improved as the season went on.